Office-indicator



N0. 625,460. Patented May 23, |899.

R. F. NORMAN.

UFFICE INDICATOR.

(Applm al am 29 1899) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ROBERT F. NORMAN, OF BOLIVAR, MISSOURI.

OFFICE-IN DICATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,460, dated May 23, 1899.

Application filed March 29,1899. Serial No. 710,980. (No model.)

To @ZZ 'wh/0717, it muy concern:

Beit known that I, ROBERT F. NORMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bolivar, in the county of Polk and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Office- Indicator, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in oflice-indicators.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of indicators and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device designed for office use and capable of being readily arranged for displaying a large variety of information for indicating the whereabouts of the occupant of an office.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ofceindicator constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the back of the device. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the front or slide, showing the rear face thereof.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw# ings.

1 designates a back or support consisting of a plate or board and provided at its side edges with longitudinal strips 2 and 3 of metal, having their longitudinal edges bent outward at the outer face of the back to form longitudinal flanges and to provide ways for a movable front or side 4, mounted on the back or body l. The back or support may be provided with any suitable means for mounting it on a door or the like, and the movable front or slide isprovided at opposite sides with metal strips 5 and 6, having their longitudinal edges bent inward at the rear face of the slide or front to provide flanges or ways to interlock with the flanges or ways of the back or support, whereby the two parts are slidingly connected.

v The front or slide is composed of upper and v lower sections 7 and 8, spaced apart to provide an opening 9 and having their adjacent will return.

edges beveled, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2 of the accompanying drawings. The sections 7 and 8 are connected by the metallic strips 5 and 6 and also by an oblong frame 10, which serves to secure a card 11 and a slate 12 to the front or slide. The back or support upon which the front is mounted is designed to be provided with a variety of information-V such as Will return soon, At courtY house, At dinner, &c.to indicate the whereabouts of the occupant of an office, and the flaring opening formed by the beveled end of the sections enables the said indicating matter to be readily seen.

The parts are locked at the desired adj ust ment bya spring 18, consisting of a coil 14E and an arm extending longitudinally of the indicator. The coil is attached to the back or support, and the arm, which has its outer end bent at an angle, extends through a perforaL tion letn of the flange of the strip 2 and is adapted to engage any one of a series of per forations l5 of the flange of the strip 5 of the -front or slide 4. This construction and arrangement enables theposition of the front or slide to be quickly changed, and it securely holds the parts when the same are adjusted. The indicator is designed to be provided at one side with a thermometer, which may be of any desired construction.

The invention has the following advantages: The indicator, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is strong and durable and is readily adjusted and is adapted to contain a variety of information for indicating the whereabouts of a person, whether he is in or out and when he The slate is conveniently arranged and enables a caller to leave a message in the absence of the occupant.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacriiicing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is l. A device of the class describedcompris ing a back or support designed to be provided with information indicating the whereabouts of a person and similar matter and having suitable ways, a slide lor front mounted in the ways and having an opening arranged to eX- IOO pose the said information, and means for securing the slide or front at the proper adjustment, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a back or support provided with flanges forming Ways, said back or support being designed to be provided between the Ways with indicating matter, a front having an opening to expose the said matter and provided with iianges interlocked with those of the back or support, one of the flanges of the front being provided with a series of openings, and a spring mounted on the back and arranged to engage the openings of the front flange, whereby the parts are secured at the desired adjustment, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described compris- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT F. NORMAN.

Witnesses:

R. B. COVINGTON, P. M. BURNS. 

